Using a CD player -AS- a DAC, via USB...

rja · 17th April 2007, 09:20 AM

Hello all,

Something has been nagging me for a while. I'm a huge fan of the Marantz CD53/63, and from all the reports of mods, it should still be able to hold its own today with a little bit of work. And they go for peanuts on eBay!

Problem is, I never use CD's any more. All my music is stored on my PC, and pumped through a USB Audigy2 NX. It isn't a bad card, but I'm sure a semi-decent CD player would trounce it. What I'm thinking is...

Is it possible to make a simple USB i2s interface, using the PCM270x line, and patch it into the i2s path inside the CD63? It should make for a cheap external DAC for a PC, if it can be done...

Cheers!

--Rich

dangus · 18th April 2007, 05:06 AM

I'd consider putting the PC inside the Marantz case. It doesn't take much CPU power to play audio, so a Pentium "biscuit PC" or 1/2 ISA CPU card would be plenty.

But, is S/PDIF such a bad thing? Add some ASRC/receiver chip inside the Marantz, and then you can use an S/PDIF link from the PC and keep your electrically-noisy PC safely isolated from the audio system.

rja · 18th April 2007, 06:35 AM

Aww, I thought this was a cracking idea! There must be other people who love the sound of their favourite CD player, yet cry-out for the convenience of a big hard-drive system? Wouldn't it be good to put all these poor old CD players to use again?

--Rich

rja · 18th April 2007, 06:35 AM

The PCM270x line can output either spdif or i2s, so I can use either. I was just wondering if it was possible - should be able to make a basic USB -> i2s or spdif converter for £10 or so - and you already know how it'll sound, as it used to be a proper CD player!

spdif and i2s are different, aren't they? I'm okay with a soldering iron and whatnot, but I'm not at all clued up on the technologies used to transfer digital audio...

--Rich

jimh0612 · 18th April 2007, 10:38 PM

Hi Rich
Just replied to you on the Kenwood thread.
Have you looked at the CD63 thread, cos this idea's been looked at there.
I know its a mammoth thread but I think some good ideas are on there or might steer you in the right direction.
Try here Marantz CD63 & CD67 mods list
and search spdif

Hope this helps and good luck with it

Jim

rja · 19th April 2007, 01:20 AM

^Cracking, I'll have a browse through later

. Cheers for the heads up!

--Rich

17th April 2007, 09:20 AM	#1
rja diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2006	Using a CD player -AS- a DAC, via USB... Hello all, Something has been nagging me for a while. I'm a huge fan of the Marantz CD53/63, and from all the reports of mods, it should still be able to hold its own today with a little bit of work. And they go for peanuts on eBay! Problem is, I never use CD's any more. All my music is stored on my PC, and pumped through a USB Audigy2 NX. It isn't a bad card, but I'm sure a semi-decent CD player would trounce it. What I'm thinking is... Is it possible to make a simple USB i2s interface, using the PCM270x line, and patch it into the i2s path inside the CD63? It should make for a cheap external DAC for a PC, if it can be done... Cheers! --Rich

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18th April 2007, 05:06 AM	#2
dangus diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vancouver Island	I'd consider putting the PC inside the Marantz case. It doesn't take much CPU power to play audio, so a Pentium "biscuit PC" or 1/2 ISA CPU card would be plenty. But, is S/PDIF such a bad thing? Add some ASRC/receiver chip inside the Marantz, and then you can use an S/PDIF link from the PC and keep your electrically-noisy PC safely isolated from the audio system.

18th April 2007, 06:35 AM	#3
rja diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2006	Aww, I thought this was a cracking idea! There must be other people who love the sound of their favourite CD player, yet cry-out for the convenience of a big hard-drive system? Wouldn't it be good to put all these poor old CD players to use again? --Rich

18th April 2007, 10:38 PM	#5
jimh0612 diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	Hi Rich Just replied to you on the Kenwood thread. Have you looked at the CD63 thread, cos this idea's been looked at there. I know its a mammoth thread but I think some good ideas are on there or might steer you in the right direction. Try here Marantz CD63 & CD67 mods list and search spdif Hope this helps and good luck with it Jim

19th April 2007, 01:20 AM	#6
rja diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2006	^Cracking, I'll have a browse through later . Cheers for the heads up! --Rich

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